Respond to the following discussion question for this module. Take a look at table 10-4 on page 206 of your text. Select one of the conditions there, and look at the treatment. Discuss the reason that treatment would work. Take a little time to research a bit, and really understand why we use these treatments, and the physical reasons they work to correct that condition. Reply to two other people. First person After reviewing table 10-4 and looking at the different treatment plans of different conditions I decided to go with obesity and preparing an obese body.  When receiving an obese body the step is one of the most important in embalming and that is positioning an obese body on the table.  The shoulders of an obese person should be high off the table along with the head, this will help with the raising of the vessels and prevent the body from purging.  This body will demand large volumes of solution and can be increased to a stronger solution towards the conclusion of embalming before the head and face are injected.  This increased solution strength can help to dry and firm the tissues.  Using these stronger solutions on an obese body will allow the body setup more firm and also aide in the process of dressing and casketing the body.    Second person  After reading chapter ten, Embalming Analysis, the analysis of the deceased human body occurs  before, during and after the embalming process.  The embalmer determines the treatment necessary to create a well preserved and presentable body. Treatment would then be determined by intrinsic and extrinsic factors.  Not having much experience in the prep room, the condition I have selected is generalized edema of the body.

    With generalized edema, I would imagine a solution of a high index would be ideal. Since muscle tissue is basically protein and has a higher water content, the embalming fluid would have a high affinity for protein creating cross linkages that are normally not present. This embalmed tissue is much firmer and does not have the affinity for water.  Now there is less hydrolysis and tissue breakdown.  Having a concentrated solution would be hypertonic in nature causing an osmotic shift of fluid out of the soft tissues reducing the edema.

    During the embalming process, one would massage the extremities to make sure there is distribution of the embalming solution into the soft tissues. If there is proper profusion, signs of liver will clear. If circulation is a problem, and there are still visible signs of edema present, surface as well as hypodermic embalming may be considered in those problem areas